Level 3
3-Credit Tuition
$1,515Non-Credit Tuition
$1,265This course presents the "power progressions" behind countless hit songs, and dozens of ways to adapt these progressions into your own personal songwriting. Whether you are an experienced songwriter looking for new ideas or a beginning songwriter who can't read music, this course will lead you to a rich source of songwriting possibilities. You'll use techniques such as modulation and cadences to craft the essential dramatic architecture of your songs. By participating in a group of songwriters, you'll have the opportunity to share your work with others, get their feedback, and see different ways that these tools can be used, under the mentorship of a master songwriter.
Syllabus
Lesson 1: Generating A Groove and Chord Colors
- Parts of a Groove
- Developing a Groove
- Four Chord Colors and Lyric Stories
- Changing Colors of Chords - Variations
Lesson 2: Colors of Keys and Songs From Progression
- Five Common Keys Colors
- Building Song By Repetition
- Contrasting Sections
Lesson 3: Power Progressions
- Major Key
- Minor Key
- Mixolydian Key
- Dorian Key
- Blues Key
- Building Songs From Power Progressions
Lesson 4: Rhythm Variations of Power Progressions
- Progression Length
- Chord Rhythm
- Chord Order
Lesson 5: Song Sections From Rhythm Variations
- Contrasting Sections
- Two Sections Two Progressions
- Three Sections Two Progressions
Lesson 6: Pitch Variations of Power Progressions
- Subtract Chords
- Add Chords
- Replace Chords
- Add Pedal Parts
Lesson 7: Song Sections From Pitch Variations
- Contrasting Two Sections
- Contrasting Three Sections
Lesson 8: Melody and Harmony
- Coloring a Word
- Coloring a Phrase
- Coloring a Lyric Section
Lesson 9: Ways of Coming Home
- Full Cadences
- Half Cadences
- Deceptive Cadences
- Plagal Cadences
- Mixed Cadences
Lesson 10: Song Sections Using Cadences
- Verse/Refrain
- Verse
- Chorus
- Bridge
- Connecting Sections With Cadences
Lesson 11: Modulation
- Parallel Key Modulation
- Relative Modulation
- Surprising Key Modulation
Lesson 12: Modulation In Songs
- Modulation In A Section
- Modulation Between Sections
Requirements
Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements
- Familiarity with popular music song form
- Basic proficiency on a harmonic instrument
- Ability to create a melody (optional)
- Ability to create original lyrics (optional - will be provided, if needed)
Required Textbook(s)
- The Songwriter's Workshop: Harmony by Jimmy Kachulis, Berklee Press/Hal Leonard
Software Requirements
- Word processing program that can open and save documents in Rich Text Format (RTF)
- A basic audio recording tool that will allow you to record yourself and save the recording in MP3 format. You will have a tool to use for this purpose inside the learning environment. Alternatively, you can use software like Audacity (PC) or GarageBand (Mac) .
After enrolling, please check the Getting Started section of your course for potential deals on required materials. Our Student Deals page also features several discounts you can take advantage of as a current student. Please contact support@online.berklee.edu for any questions.
General Course Requirements
Below are the minimum requirements to access the course environment and participate in Live Chats. Please make sure to also check the Prerequisites and Course-Specific Requirements section above, and ensure your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements for all software needed for your course.
Mac Users
PC Users
All Users
- Latest version of Google Chrome
- Zoom meeting software
- Webcam
- Speakers or headphones
- External or internal microphone
- Broadband Internet connection
Instructors
Author
Jimmy Kachulis teaches songwriting and lyric writing at Berklee, conducts clinics nationwide, and has helped thousands of songwriters develop and maximize their skills. Look through the bios of some of today's best songwriters, and his name comes up again and again; his students' works have earned Grammy nominations, and been recorded by a vast range of artists on major and independent labels. An accomplished composer, arranger, and conductor, he has worked with great artists like George Coleman, Jon Hendricks, John Lewis, and Martha Reeves, and his compositions have been featured on scores from The Sopranos to Touched by an Angel. Jimmy's songs and arrangements for "Island Breeze," by legendary guitarist, Eric Gale, have been re-released and distributed worldwide under the Warner Brothers label.
Instructor
Neil Diercks is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, song coach, and musician. He served for many years in various capacities at Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., in Nashville, beginning as an intern and eventually becoming Manager of A&R Activities. It was within this role that he worked with hit songwriters including Gary Burr, Steve Bogard, Stephony Smith, Jeff Stevens, and Victoria Shaw, who penned hits for artists such as Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Faith Hill, Ricky Martin, and Christina Aguilera.
Neil is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied songwriting, voice, and music business, and went on to serve on the Board of Trustees for three years. He has lectured and led songwriting workshops internationally, and has won several awards for his teaching, including the UPCEA Excellence in Teaching award (2015); the Pearson Excellence In Online Teaching award (2015); The Berklee College of Music Distinguished Faculty Award for Berklee Online (2016). He currently collaborates with songwriters and artists in Los Angeles and around the globe. Read Less
Instructor
Noah Lubert is a songwriter, keyboardist and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. His credits and collaborators include Emily Rowed (604 Records), Nate Smith (Sony/ATV), Brooke Alexx, Chris Condon (Billy Ray Cyrus), Angie K, Lily Kincaide and Jaclyn Kenyon. Since relocating to Nashville, Noah’s songs have been included on top country Spotify playlists and tours. His continued passion for education and academia have led to teaching stints on Berklee’s Boston campus at Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive and Berklee’s Summer Songwriting Intensive, as well as continued work teaching Songwriting and Production Fundamentals for Songwriters through Berklee Online.
What's Next?
When taken for credit, Songwriting: Harmony can be applied towards these associated programs:
Associated Certificate Programs
Associated Degree Majors
Related Music Career Roles
Employers look for skills learned in this course, when hiring for the following music career roles:
Questions?
Contact our Academic Advisors by phone at 1-866-BERKLEE (U.S.), 1-617-747-2146 (INT'L), or by email at advisors@online.berklee.edu.
